Late this afternoon I started working through the nice collection of waterfowl including Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Green-winged Teal, as well as the expected Common and Hooded Mergansers. As I looked carefully at the goldeneyes, I was drawn to one individual, somewhat similar to the females, but with a blackish head, bill entirely blackish-gray, white breast and underparts, with gray flanks and back, the back being a shade darker. There was no hint of a white marks in front of the eyes. The bird was clearly larger than the females. But what really caught my attention was the head shape - classic Barrow’s profile, steep forehead and rounded and swept-back crown and nape. It looked as if the feathers on the nape spilled over on top the back.  The crown was not peaked.  Given its plumage, I suspect that this individual is a male in it’s first Spring.
     It would be great to get some confirmation as the lighting conditions, not to mention the distance, precluded any photos. Among the Goldeneyes, look for a gray-bodies, white-breasted individual with a black head with no hint of brown like the females have, 


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